Ornamental chain



Jan. 3, 1933. H. WACHENHEIMER 1,893,256

ORNAMENTAL CHAIN Filed June 11, 1931 *nnuuuun Patented Jan. 3, 1933UNITED STATES.

HARRY WACHENIIEIMER, or PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND Y ORNAMENTAL CHAINApplication filed .l'une 11,

The invention relates primarily to ornamental chains,especiallyjsuitable for use in the jewelry art in the construction ofbracelets, rings, necklaces and the like.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a novel constructionof chain in which the use of solder is obviated and which is capable ofgreat longitudinal flexibility.

Another object of the invention is to produce a chain which is simple inconstruction and inexpensive to manufacture, and which is composed of aseries of links which are so constructed as to enable them to be easilyand quickly attached to or removed from the chain. 7 r 7 To these endsthe invention consists of the novel construction and arrangement ofparts hereinafter described and more particularly set'forth in theclaims. In describing the invention in detail reference will be made tothe accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of aportion of my'improved' chain. I

Fig. 2 is a side elevation.

Fig. 3 is a bottom elevation.

' Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal central section showing thelongitudinal flexibility of the links. a

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a block link.

Fig. 5a is a topplan view of a block link.

Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views of the connecting link. I

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of a portion of a chain of modifiedconstruction.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a modified form of block link inthe'chain shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the connecting link in the chain shownin Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a central transverse section of the link shown in Fig. 10.Referring to the drawing, my improved chain comprises a plurality ofblock links 10,each of which consists of a substantially rectangularsolid body portion, and a series of connecting links 11, each of whichconsists of a channel shaped member open at the top and having sideportions 13' and 14 and bottom connecting'portions 15 and 16, the latterbeing spacedinwardly from the ends of the "13 and'ltajre bent up alongthe dotted lines."-

j '17 of said connecting link 11. Thus,'there is reason of the fact thatthebottom portions 1931. Serial u'atiasei. ,7 link as shown moreclearly'inFig. 7. Said sides 13 and 11 are thus connected at the bottomand spaced at the top. The sides 13 and 14: of the link 11 have pairs ofaligned aperr tures 17, 17 and 18, 18. Each ofthe block links 10 isprovided withpivot pins 19,19 and 20, 20 as shown more clearly in Fig.5'. As shown more clearly in Figs. land 4,each adjacent end of adjacentblock links 10overlaps the connecting link 11 to such an extent that thedistance between the adjacent, ends of adjacent block links is less thanone-half of the length of theconnecting link. Said block link 10 ispreferably stamped out of sheet metal with pairs ofpivot'pins 19, '19and 20, 20 extending from opposite sides of said block, and each blockmay be provided with a central conicalcavity 21 to receive a gem orother ornamentation for imparting to the completed chain the desiredornamental appearance. j

The connecting link 11 preferably stamped out of sheet metal intheflatformv illustrated in Fig; 6, after which the sides;

13 and 1 1, to form the channel illustrated in Fig. 7. V w 1 Inassembling the links, two adj acent'block links 10 are connectedby aconnectinglink 11, the pivot pins 19, 19 of one block link be- 30 I ma e'ing mounted in the aligned'apertures 18,18

an'dthe pivotpins 20,- 20 of another block link 'being mounted in thealigned apertures 17,

provided a pivotal connection between ads j acent links above the bottomof thechannelshaped links. After the links are assembled the exposedside portions 13-and'l 1 and the exposed ends of the pivot pins 19, 19and 20, 20 may be treated in any suitable way to present a smooth,finishedappearance, 4 7

With the above construction it will be seen that while the block linkswill'be held close together when the chain lies flat, as shown in Figs.1 and 2, yet said links are'capable of considerable movement withrelation to each other, as shown in Fig. 4, thereby giving to the chainan extreme amountof flexibility,.which is very desirable in this classofchains. .By

' While as shown in Fig. 5 the block links Both the block links 10 andthe connect-ing links 11 may be made by striking out the same in solidpieces or forming the same in shell construction, the latter beingpreferable when the chain is made of precious metal.

10 are provided with a cavity for a gem or other ornamentation, it willbe understood that this gem cavity may be omitted-and the block linksleft plain or otherwise ornamented as may be desired. Similarly,connecting links 11 may be plain or ornamented in any suitable way.While I have shown two bottom connecting'portions 15 and 16 in the link11, it will be obvious that there may be only one bottom portion orthere may be more than two. It will also be understood that the l nksmav be of any suitable shape or design, the specific shapes of the links10 and 11, as shown in Figsr5 and 7 being illustrative of one embodimentof the invention. 7

A modified form of construction constituting anotherembodiment of theinvent on is illustrated in Figs. 8 to 11. As here shown,

the construction is substantially the same as illu trated in Figs. 1 to7. except that the block links 10 are diamond shaped and. the connect nglinks 11' areprovided with upper lateral extensions 22, 22, the links asthus shaped cooperation to form the ornamental ou line il ustrated inFig. 8. The lateral extens ons 22. 22 mav be provided with conical cavites 23 to receive gems or other ornamen atons. Otherwise the constructionof the links 10 and 11 are substantiall the same as the l nks 10 and 11as above described and the corresponding par s of said links 10 and '11are designated by the same nuimerals dist nguished by the primecharacter.

"While I have shown two embodiments of the. nvention it will beunderstood that the invention may have other embodiments aswillreadilvoccur to those skilledin the art in view of the presentdisclosure. it being limited to the exact construction shown, except asrequired by the appended claims and the prior art.

Having thusdescribed my invention what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States is:

1. A flexible ornamental chain comprising a plurality of block links anda connecting link between two block links, said connecting linkcomprising two side portions and a connecting bottom portion spaced fromthe ends of said'side portions, said side portions having two spacedpairs of aligned apertures,each of said block links having two spacedpairs of laterally extending pivot pins on opposite sides thereof, onepair of said pins of one block link mounted in one pair of apertures insaid connecting link,

"and one pair of said pins on another block link mounted in the otherpair of. apertures in said connecting link, each adjacent end ofadjacentblock links overlapping the con necting link to such an extentthat the distance between the adjacent ends of adjacent block .links isless than one-half of the length of the connectinglink. j

2. A flexible ornamentalchain comprising a series of links, adjacentlinkscomprising a block link and an open top channelshaped link, andpivotal connections between adjacent links above the bottom of thechannel-shaped link, said pivotal connections comprising two spacedpairs of aligned apertures in said channel-shaped link and aligned pivotpins on opposite sides of the block links at both ends thereof mountedin said apertures, the bottom of the channel-shaped link being spacedfrom the ends thereof to permit relative angular movement of adjacentlinks in one direction, the location of said pivotal connection abovethe bottom of the channel-shaped link permittingrelative angularmovement of adjacent links in the opposite direction whereby said chainis flexible in two directions, each adjacent end of 'adjacent blocklinks overlapping thechannel-shaped link to such an extent that thedistance between the adjacent ends of adjacent block links is less'thanone-half of the length of the connecting link.

3. A flexible ornamental chain comprising a plurality of block links anda connecting link between two block links, said connecting linkcomprising two side portions and a connecting bottom portion spaced fromthe ends of said side portions, said side portions having two spacedpairs of aligned apertures at both ends 'thereof, said block linkshaving pairs of laterally extending pivot pins at both ends thereof, onepair of said pins at one end of one block link mounted in one pair ofapertures in said connecting link, and one pair of said pins on anotherblock link mounted in the other pair of aperturesin said connectinglink, each adjacent end of adjacent block links overlapping theconnecting link to such an extent that the distance between the adjacentends of adjacent block links is less than one-half of thejlength oftheconnecting link, said block links having reduced end portions positionedbetween the sides of said connecting link.

1. A flexible ornamental chain comprising a series of links, adjacentlinks comprising a block link and an open top channelshaped link, andpivotal connections between adjacent links above the bottom of thechan-.

nel-shaped link, said pivotal connections comprising aligned aperturesat both ends of said channel-shaped links and aligned pivot pins onopposite sides of the block links at both ends thereof, mounted in saidapertures, the bottom of the channel-shaped link I being spaced from theends thereof to permit relative angular movement of adjacent links inone direction, the location of said pivotal v connection above thebottom of the channelshaped link permitting relative angular movement ofadjacent links in the opposite direction whereby said chain is flexiblein two directions, each adjacent end of adjacent block links overlappingthe channel-shaped link to such an extent that the distance between theadjacent ends of adjacent block links is less than one-half of thelength of the connecting link, said block links having reduced endportions positioned within said channel-shaped link.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

HARRY WACHENHEIMER.

